With the rookie minicamp finished and organized team activities underway, we are one step closer to seeing if Sean Payton and George Paton's offseason work was a success.

Payton was brought in to turn the franchise around and bring back a championship-caliber level of play. While the front office has made important moves, it could all be for naught if they fall flat when it matters the most.

With the season almost underway, The Athletic highlighted one player from every team that fans should be keeping an eye out for. Not surprisingly, Russell Wilson was that player for the Denver Broncos.

Throwing some shade at the previous regime, Mike Jones highlighted why Russell Wilson is a player to watch for the Denver Broncos next season. Broncos fans may think he was too kind on the Nathaniel Hackett diagnosis.

The Nathaniel Hackett experiment was disastrous, and the Broncos hope the trade for Wilson won’t prove to be as well. Wilson last year looked like a player who had greatly declined, but this offseason is all about getting on the same page with his new head coach, Sean Payton, and recapturing the magic that once caused people to regard him as a future Hall of Famer.

Much like a phoenix bursting into flames before being reborn again, the front office is hoping that the trainwreck that was last season was the metaphorical phoenix burning and Russell Wilson rises from the ashes and returns to form. 

Fans are divided in that is Russell Wilson really the player people should be watching? The defense is chock-full of talent and the fan base may know what they are getting with Wilson. Last season was historically bad.

To put into perspective just how bad Wilson was last season, let's take a look at where his totals ended up compared to the rest of his career.

Passing Yards Total: (Worst to best)

• 2012: 3,118 yards (rookie season)
• 2021: 3,113 yards
• 2013: 3,357 yards
• 2018: 3,448 yards
• 2014: 3,475 yards
• 2022: 3,524 yards
• 2017: 3,983 yards
• 2015: 4,024 yards
• 2019: 4110 yards
• 2020: 4212 yards
• 2016: 4219 yards

Passing Touchdowns: (Worst to best over)

• 2023: 16 Passing TDs
• 2014: 20 Passing TDs
• 2016: 21 Passing TDs
• 2021: 25 Passing TDs
• 2012 (Tied): 26 Passing TDs
• 2013 (Tied): 26 Passing TDs
• 2019: 31 Passing TDs
• 2015 (Tied): 34 Passing TDs
• 2017 (Tied): 34 Passing TDs
• 2018: 35 Passing TDs
• 2020: 40 Passing TDs

Interceptions: (Worst to best)

• 2020: 13 INTs
• 2022 (Tied): 11 INTs
• 2016 (Tied): 11 INTs
• 2017 (Tied): 11 INTs
• 2012: 10 INTs
• 2013: 9 INTs
• 2015: 8 INTs
• 2014 (Tied): 7 INTs
• 2018 (Tied): 7 INTs
• 2021: 6 INTs
• 2019: 5 INTs

QBR: (Worst to best)

• 2023: 36.7 QBR
• 2016: 57.1 QBR
• 2021: 60.6 QBR
• 2017: 62.4 QBR
• 2018: 63.3 QBR
• 2020: 67.1 QBR
• 2013: 67.2 QBR
• 2015: 68.6 QBR
• 2014: 69.7 QBR
• 2019: 71.5 QBR
• 2012: 74.8 QBR

It's no surprise The Athletic has all eyes on the Broncos QB1. Last season, Wilson almost had more bathrooms in his house than touchdowns thrown.

It can only go up from here, right?